MotoGP – FIM Awards Ceremony in Valencia rounds off 2011 season‏

Casey Stoner picked up his 2011 FIM MotoGP World Championship trophy in Valencia on Sunday evening, when the traditional end of season Awards Ceremony took place at the Auditori Mar Rojo de L’Oceanogràfic in the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciencies.

The Repsol Honda rider took centre stage at the end of the evening as the night’s events culminated with his collection of the trophy, with viewers around the world watching a live broadcast of the event.

Presenters Gavin Emmett and Izaskun Ruiz were joined on stage by President of the Generalitat Valenciana Mr. Alberto Fabra, Mayoress of Valencia Ms. Rita Barberá and Dorna Sports CEO Mr. Carmelo Ezpeleta. FIM President Mr. Vito Ippolito, IRTA President Mr. Hervé Poncharal and FIM CCR Director Mr. Rezsö Bulcsu were also on hand to present awards throughout the course of the evening.

Before Stoner received his award a number of other prizes were handed out as Moto2 World Champion Stefan Bradl and the last-ever 125cc title winner Nico Terol were both presented with their trophies.

The recognition of a series of other notable achievements saw prizes awarded for the Rookie of the Year in each World Championship category, the BMW M Award for best qualifier in the MotoGP class, the Tissot Pole of Poles, Best Grand Prix, the Team and Manufacturer World Championship titles, the Michel Metraux Trophy (Moto2 and 125cc), the Shoya Tomizawa Fair Play Award, and the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.

Rounding off a hugely successful 2011 season in which he collected his second MotoGP World Championship, Casey Stoner also took the BMW M Award as Best Qualifier in MotoGP.

A total of 12 pole positions – Stoner only qualified off the front row once during the season – helped the Australian amass 405 points as he equalled Mick Doohan’s record for the most poles in a premier class season. Stoner’s impressive form ensured that the 26 year-old was by far the best performer in qualifying this season as he ended the year 131 points ahead of runner-up Jorge Lorenzo.

During the Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana Casey Stoner was handed the keys to his prize, a high-specification top of the range BMW 1 Series M Coupé. Thomas Schemera, BMW M Commercial and Marketing Director, was present following the final qualifying session of the season at the Spanish circuit to make the presentation to Stoner.

It is the third time Stoner has collected the Award, which he previously won in 2007 and 2008, and he was officially confirmed as the 2011 winner at Motegi where he qualified in pole position.